Introduction to SAT II Physics

The best way to do well on SAT II Physics is to be really good at physics. For
that, there is no substitute.

Content of SAT II Physics

You arent allowed to use a calculator on SAT II Physics.
The math required of you never goes beyond simple arithmetic and
manipulation of equations.
75 total questions..You have, on average, 48 seconds to answer each
question,
Theyre more interested in testing your grasp of the basic concepts of
physics.

ETS breaks down the concepts you need to know for the test into six
categories:
Topic Percentage of the Test
Mechanics 3438%
Electricity and Magnetism 2226%
Waves 1519%
Heat, Kinetic Theory, and Thermodynamics 812%
Modern Physics 812%
Miscellaneous 24%

You need to know: the formulas expressing physical relationships (such as

F = ma), how to manipulate equations, how to read a graph

You dont need to know: trig identities, calculus, three-dimensional

vectors and graphs, physical constants (such as G = 6.67 1011 Nm2 kg2)

Format of SAT II Physics

SAT II Physics is a one-hour-long test composed of 75 questions and divided
into two parts.
Part Aclassification questionstakes up the first 12 or 13 questions of the
test, while
Part Bfive-choice completion questionstakes up the remaining 62 or 63
questions.

Part A: Classification Questions

Reverse of normal multiple-choice question: they give you the answers first
and the questions second. Youll be presented with five possible answer
choices, and then a string of two to four questions to which those answer
choices apply. The answer choices are usually either graphs or the names of
five related laws or concepts. Because they allow for several questions on
the same topic, classification questions will ask you to exhibit a fuller
understanding of the topic at hand.

Each set of classification questions is generally a bit harder than the one
that came before.

Classification Question Example

Directions: Each set of lettered choices below refers to the numbered
questions immediately following it. Select the one lettered choice that best
answers each question and then blacken the corresponding space on the
answer sheet. A choice may be used once, more than once, or not at all in
each set.
Questions 13

A boy throws a ball straight up in the air and then catches it again.

1 Which of the above graphs best represents the balls position with respect
. to time?

2 Which of the above graphs best represents the balls velocity with respect
. to time?

3 Which of the above graphs best represents the balls acceleration with
. respect to time?

Explanation
You can usually answer classification questions a bit more quickly than the
standard five-choice completion questions, since you only need to review
one set of answer choices to answer a series of questions.
The answer to question 1 is B. The balls position with respect to time can
be expressed by the equation y = 1/2 gt2, where g is the downward,
acceleration due to gravity. As we can see, the graph of y against t is an
upside-down parabola. In more intuitive terms, we know that, over time, a
ball thrown in the air will rise, slow down, stop, and then descend.
The answer to question 2 is E. The acceleration due to gravity means that
the velocity of the ball will decrease at a steady rate. On the downward half
of the balls trajectory, the velocity will be negative, so E, and not A, is the
correct graph.
The answer to question 3 is D. The acceleration due to gravity is constant
throughout the balls trajectory, and since it is in a downward direction, its
value is negative.
Part B: Five-Choice Completion Questions
These are the multiple-choice questions we all know and love, and the
lifeblood of any multiple-choice exam. You know the drill: they ask a
question, give you five possible answer choices, and you pick the best one.
Got it? Good. An example appears below.

While youll often find two or three questions in a row that deal with the
same topic in physics, there is no pattern. You might find a question on
modern physics followed by a question on dynamics followed by a question
on optics. However, there is a general tendency for the questions to become
more difficult as you progress.

Five-Choice Completion Question Example

Directions: Each of the questions of incomplete statements below is
followed by five suggested answers or completions. Select the one that is
best in each case and then fill in the corresponding oval on the answer
sheet.

1 A gas in a closed container is steadily heated over a period of time. Which

. of the following statements is true of this process?
(A
The average kinetic energy of the gas molecules decreases
)
(B
The mass of the container increases
)
(C The pressure exerted by the gas on the walls of the container
) increases
(D
The gas changes phase into a liquid
)
(E
The specific heat of the gas decreases
)

Explanation
The answer to this question is C. The key lies in remembering the ideal gas
law: PV = nRT. According to this formula, an increase in temperature is
accompanied by an increase in pressure. A is wrong, since the average
kinetic energy of gas molecules corresponds to their temperature: if the
temperature increases, so does the average kinetic energy of the
molecules. B is wrong because were dealing with a closed container: the
mass cannot either increase or decrease. D is wrong because a gas must be
cooled, not heated, to change phase into a liquid. Finally, E is wrong
because the specific heat of any substance is a constant, and not subject to
change.
How Your Knowledge Will Be Tested
There are three different levels on which your understanding of physics may
be tested.
Recall (2033% of the test)
These are questions of the either-you-know-it-or-you-dont variety.
Single-Concept Problem (4053% of the test)
These questions expect you to recall, and make use of, one physical
relationship, formula, or equation.
Multiple-Concept Problem (2033% of the test)
These questions expect you to bring together two or more different
relationships, formulas, or equations. These questions test not only your
knowledge of physical relationships, but also your ability to integrate more
than one in a complex problem.

Youll find all three types of questions throughout the test, and at different
levels of difficulty. Ultimately, every question tests the very same thing:
whether youve grasped the basic principles of physics.

SAT II Physics Test-Taking Strategies

Hint 1: Know Those Formulas!
6780% of the test requires that you know your formulas.
This doesnt mean you have to do a lot of rote memorization.
If you have trouble remembering formulas, you might want to look them
over carefully in the minutes before the test, and then, before you even look
at the first question, write down the formulas you have a hard time
remembering on the back of the question booklet. That way, you can refer
back to them without any painful effort of recollection.
Hint 2: Estimate
Dont dive blindly into five possible answer choices until you know what
youre looking for.
Understand the question, get a rough sense of what the correct answer
should look like.
Estimation is only useful for questions involving calculation
Estimation is a good way to eliminate some wrong answers when youre
making an educated guess.
Hint 3: Put It on Paper
Dont be afraid to write and draw.
Draw a diagram of what youre dealing with.
Drawing graphs can also make a solution appear out of thin air.
Hint 4: Answers Are Not Convoluted
These questions are designed in such a way that, if you understand what
youre being asked, you will need at most a couple of simple calculations to
get the right answer.
Hint 5: Eliminate Wrong Answers
On most questions, there will be at least one or two answer choices you can
eliminate. There are also certain styles of questions that lend themselves to
particular process-of-elimination methods.
Classification Questions
EXCEPT Questions
I, II, and III Questions
Physics Hint 6: Be Flexible
Questions will be worded in unfamiliar ways and youre expected to
manipulate familiar equations in order to get the right answer.